U.S. patent application number 09/766651 was filed with the patent office on 2001-07-26 for method and apparatus for outputting image data.
Invention is credited to Nakayama, Takashi.
Application Number | 20010009602 09/766651 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18544889 |
Filed Date | 2001-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010009602 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakayama, Takashi |
July 26, 2001 |
Method and apparatus for outputting image data
Abstract
An image data output apparatus for outputting to a second
medium, which is a different type of medium than a first medium,
image data recorded in the first medium received from a customer,
the apparatus, which includes: a reader for reading out the image
data recorded in the first medium; an output unit for outputting
the image data to the second medium; a digital contents storage
unit for storing digital contents to be stored in the first medium;
a selector for selecting from a plurality of said digital contents
stored in said digital contents storage unit said digital contents
to be provided to the customer based on a predetermined selection
condition; and a recorder for recording said selected digital
contents in the first medium.
Inventors: |
Nakayama, Takashi; (Saitama,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
McGinn & Gibb, PLLC
Suite 200
8321 Old Courthouse Road
Vienna
VA
22182-3817
US
|
Family ID: |
18544889 |
Appl. No.: |
09/766651 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
386/219 ;
386/232; 386/E5.002 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20130101;
H04N 1/00148 20130101; H04N 5/907 20130101; H04N 1/00175 20130101;
H04N 1/00193 20130101; H04N 1/00132 20130101; H04N 1/00188
20130101; H04N 5/765 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
386/46 ;
386/117 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/76; H04N
005/225; H04N 005/91 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 25, 2000 |
JP |
2000-17978 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An image data output apparatus for outputting to a second
medium, which is a different type of medium than a first medium,
image data recorded in the first medium received from a customer,
the apparatus comprising: a reader for reading out the image data
recorded in the first medium; an output unit for outputting the
image data to the second medium; a digital contents storage unit
for storing digital contents to be stored in the first medium; a
selector for selecting from a plurality of said digital contents
stored in said digital contents storage unit said digital contents
to be provided to the customer based on a predetermined selection
condition; and a recorder for recording said selected digital
contents in the first medium.
2. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the first medium comprises a memory card in which the image data is
recorded by an image capturing apparatus that records and plays the
image data.
3. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said digital contents comprises advertisement information to be
provided to the customer in exchange for a discount of the service
rate for outputting the image data from the first medium to the
second medium.
4. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said digital contents storage unit stores said digital contents to
be provided in the second medium along with the image data.
5. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said recorder records said selected digital contents in the second
medium.
6. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said digital contents are selected by the customer.
7. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said digital contents are selected as not being displayed when
being printed.
8. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said digital contents comprise pay digital data to be received by
the customer.
9. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a customer information input unit for inputting
information relating to the customer for reference, and said
selector selects said digital contents by referring to said
customer information.
10. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a customer condition storage unit for storing a
condition relating to the customer as said predetermined selection
condition, wherein said selector selects said digital contents by
collating said customer information with said customer
condition.
11. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the image data includes accessory data showing the environment of
which the image data is recorded in the first medium, the image
data output apparatus further comprising: an accessory data reader
for reading said accessory data from the image data; and a
recording condition storage unit for storing a recording condition
associating said recorded environment with a recording format of
said digital contents, wherein said selector comprises a recording
condition collator for selecting said digital contents by collating
said accessory data with said recording condition.
12. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein
said accessory data relates to the type of image capturing
apparatus that photographed the image data, and said recording
condition defines a recording format to be played by said image
capturing apparatus.
13. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising an available memory detector for detecting available
memory of the first medium, wherein said selector selects said
digital contents based on said detected available memory.
14. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a data size storage unit for storing a data size of said
digital contents, wherein said selector selects said digital
contents having a smaller data size than said available memory by
collating said detected available memory of the first medium with
said data size.
15. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising: an after-treatment condition input unit for inputting
an after-treatment condition showing whether or not to erase at
least a part of the image data from the first medium after
completing the reading of the image data from the first medium; and
an eraser for erasing at least a part of the image data from the
first medium based on said after-treatment condition.
16. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising: a display for displaying to the customer some of said
digital contents as choices; and an operation control for selecting
desired digital contents for recording in the first medium from
said digital contents displayed by said display.
17. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein
said operation control selects desired digital contents for
providing to the second medium from said digital contents displayed
by said display.
18. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a calculator for calculating a price of said digital
contents recorded in the first medium based on said predetermined
selection condition.
19. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein
said calculator calculates the price of said digital contents
recorded in the second medium based on said predetermined selection
condition.
20. The image data output apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the image capturing apparatus having a camera display for
displaying some of said digital contents as choices and a camera
operation control for selecting desired digital contents from said
digital contents displays said digital contents as said choices and
records said digital contents by selecting with said camera
operation control.
21. An image data output system for outputting image data
comprising: a first medium for recording the image data to be
received by a shop for converting a medium and for recording
digital contents to be received by a customer; a second medium for
recording the image data and for recording digital contents along
with the image data to be received by the customer; a reader for
reading out the image data recorded in said first medium; an output
unit for outputting the image data to said second medium; a digital
contents storage unit for storing said digital contents that the
shop provides to the customer; a selector for selecting from said
digital contents storage unit said digital contents to be provided
to the customer based on a predetermined selection condition; a
recorder for recording said selected digital contents in at least
one of said first and second medium; and an image capturing
apparatus for outputting customer information, comprising: an
information input unit for inputting by a user's operation
information for the image data output apparatus to refer to when
selecting said digital contents; and a recorder for recording said
information along with the image data in at least one of said first
and second medium.
22. The image data output system as claimed in claim 21, wherein
said image capturing apparatus comprises: a camera display for
displaying said digital contents as choices; and a camera operation
control for selecting desired digital contents from said displayed
digital contents.
23. A method for outputting image data comprising: reading out from
a first medium that stores the image data, which is recorded by an
image capturing apparatus; outputting the image data to a second
medium, which is a different type of medium than said first medium;
selecting from a plurality of digital contents to be stored in at
least said first medium that a shop provides to a customer; and
recording in the first medium said digital contents.
24. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 23,
wherein said recording records said digital contents also in the
second medium.
25. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 23,
wherein said recording records said digital contents selected by
said selecting based on a predetermined selection condition.
26. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 23,
wherein said selecting comprises inputting information relating to
the customer for a reference, and said selecting selects said
digital contents by referring to said customer information.
27. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 26,
wherein said digital contents is selected by the customer.
28. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 23,
further comprising displaying displays at least one of said digital
contents before displaying the image data stored in the first
medium.
29. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 28,
wherein said displaying displays at least one of said digital
contents before displaying the image data stored in the second
medium.
30. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 28,
wherein said displaying is selected whether to display said digital
contents when printing.
31. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 23,
further comprising storing a condition relating to the customer as
said predetermined selection condition, wherein said selecting
selects said digital contents by collating said customer
information with said customer condition.
32. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 23,
wherein the image data includes accessory data showing the
environment of which the image data is recorded in the first
medium, the image data output apparatus further comprising: reading
said accessory data from the image data; and storing a recording
condition associating said recorded environment with a recording
format of said digital contents, wherein said selecting comprises
selecting said digital contents by collating said accessory data
with said recording condition.
33. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 23,
further comprising detecting available memory of the first medium,
wherein said selecting selects said digital contents based on said
detected available memory.
34. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 23,
further comprising storing a data size of said digital contents,
wherein said selecting selects said digital contents having a
smaller data size than said available memory by collating said
available memory of the first medium with said data size.
35. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 23,
further comprising: inputting an after-treatment condition showing
whether or not to erase at least a part of the image data from the
first medium after completing the reading of the image data from
the first medium; and erasing at least a part of the image data
from the first medium based on said after-treatment condition.
36. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 23,
further comprising: displaying to the customer some of said digital
contents as choices; and selecting desired digital contents for
recording in the first medium from said digital contents displayed
by said display.
37. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 36,
wherein said selecting selects desired digital contents for
recording in the second medium from said digital contents displayed
by said display.
38. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 23,
further comprising calculating a price of said digital contents
recorded in the first medium based on said predetermined selection
condition.
39. The method for outputting image data as claimed in claim 38,
wherein said calculating calculates the price of said digital
contents recorded in the second medium based on said predetermined
selection condition.
40. A recording medium storing a program for outputting image data,
which is executable at a computer, the program comprising: a
reading module for reading out the image data recorded in a first
medium; an outputting module for outputting the image data to a
second medium; an selecting module for selecting digital contents;
and a recording module for recording digital contents that said
image capturing apparatus reproduces in one of the first and second
medium.
41. The recording medium as claimed in claim 40, the program
further comprising a displaying module for displaying at least one
of said digital contents before displaying the image data stored in
one of the first and second medium.
42. The recording medium as claimed in claim 40, the program
further comprising a module for said digital contents to be
selected as not being displayed when the image is printed.
43. The recording medium as claimed in claim 40, wherein said
selecting module comprises inputting information relating to the
customer for reference, and said selecting module selects said
digital contents by referring to said customer information.
44. The recording medium as claimed in claim 40, the program
further comprising a storing module for storing a condition
relating to the customer as said predetermined selection condition,
wherein said selecting module selects said digital contents by
collating said customer information with said customer
condition.
45. The recording medium as claimed in claim 40, wherein the image
data includes accessory data showing the environment of which the
image data is recorded in the first medium, the program further
comprising: an accessory data reading module for reading said
accessory data from the image data; and a recording condition
storing module for storing a recording condition associating said
recorded environment with a recording format of said digital
contents, wherein said selecting module comprises selecting said
digital contents by collating said accessory data with said
recording condition.
46. The recording medium as claimed in claim 40, the program
further comprising an available memory detecting module for
detecting available memory of the first medium, wherein said
selecting module selects said digital contents based on said
detected available memory.
47. The recording medium as claimed in claim 40, the program
further comprising a data size storing module for storing a data
size of said digital contents, wherein said selecting module
selects said digital contents having a smaller data size than said
detected available memory by collating said available memory of the
first medium with said data size.
48. The recording medium as claimed in claim 40, the program
further comprising: an after-treatment condition inputting module
for inputting an after-treatment condition showing whether or not
to erase at least a part of the image data from the first medium
after completing the reading of the image data from the first
medium; and an erasing module for erasing at least a part of the
image data from the first medium based on said after-treatment
condition.
49. The recording medium as claimed in claim 40, the program
further comprising: a displaying module for displaying to the
customer some of said digital contents as choices; and an operating
module for selecting desired digital contents for recording in at
least one of the first and second medium from said digital contents
displayed by said display.
50. The recording medium as claimed in claim 40, the program
further comprising a calculating module for calculating a price of
said digital contents recorded in at least one of the first and
second medium based on said predetermined selection condition.
Description
[0001] This patent application claims priority from a Japanese
patent application No.2000-017978 filed on Jan. 25, 2000, the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for
outputting image data. In particular, the present invention relates
to an apparatus for outputting image data recorded in a memory card
to another medium.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, media conversions, such as printing image data
on paper by reading out image data photographed by a digital camera
from a memory card and re-recording data on another medium such as
a CD-R, are conducted. Also, a media conversion service, which is
undertaken by shops like photo shops conducting these kinds of
media conversion, is widely known. For example, the Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open No.H11-109518 discloses an apparatus for
receiving accessory data from a digital camera such as the number
of prints of photographed images and correctly performing a media
conversion service. There are two methods for a media conversion
service of this type. One is a method for a customer to conduct a
media conversion by himself or herself. The other is a method for a
person other than a customer, such as a sales clerk, to conduct a
media conversion of a memory card received by a customer.
[0006] In both methods, image data is read out from a memory card
in which photographed image data has been recorded, but then the
memory card is returned to the customer in the same state.
Incidentally, even if photographed image data is recorded, the
memory card usually has available memory. Moreover, when the
read-out image data is no longer needed, the available memory of
the memory card may be increased if the unnecessary data is
deleted.
[0007] At photo shops, it is popular that publicity handouts made
of a paper medium, which contains sales information or
advertisements, are supplied with developed pictures when the
developed pictures are returned to customers. However, when using a
media conversion service according to the conventional art, it is
difficult to unify the supplied publicity handouts made of a paper
medium because the formats of media returned to customers are
different. In particular, it is more difficult for a customer to
receive publicity handouts when the customer himself or herself
conducts a media conversion by operating a terminal.
[0008] Moreover, if sales information or advertisements were
digital data instead of a paper medium, advertisements may be able
to be in forms of animations or music, thereby customers may
receive publicity handouts in various forms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a method and apparatus for outputting image data by taking
advantage of the available memory of a memory card after a media
conversion is conducted, which is capable of overcoming the above
drawbacks accompanying the conventional art. The above and other
objects can be achieved by combinations described in the
independent claims. The dependent claims define further
advantageous and exemplary combinations of the present
invention.
[0010] According to the first aspect of the present invention, an
image data output apparatus for outputting to a second medium,
which is a different type of medium than a first medium, image data
recorded in the first medium received from a customer, which
includes: a reader for reading out the image data recorded in the
first medium; an output unit for outputting the image data to the
second medium; a digital contents storage unit for storing digital
contents to be stored in the first medium; a selector for selecting
from a plurality of the digital contents stored in the digital
contents storage unit the digital contents to be provided to the
customer based on a predetermined selection condition; and a
recorder for recording the selected digital contents in the first
medium.
[0011] The first medium may include a memory card in which the
image data is recorded by an image capturing apparatus that records
and plays the image data.
[0012] The digital contents may include advertisement information
to be provided to the customer in exchange for a discount of the
service rate for outputting the image data from the first medium to
the second medium.
[0013] The digital contents storage unit may store digital contents
to be provided in the second medium along with the image data. The
recorder may record the selected digital contents in the second
medium. The digital contents may be selected by the customer. The
digital contents may be selected as not being displayed when being
printed. The digital contents may include pay digital data to be
received by the customer.
[0014] The image data output apparatus may further include a
customer information input unit for inputting information relating
to the customer for reference, and the selector may select the
digital contents by referring to the customer information.
[0015] The image data output apparatus may further include a
customer condition storage unit for storing a condition relating to
the customer as the predetermined selection condition, and wherein
the selector may select the digital contents by collating the
customer information with the customer condition.
[0016] The image data may include accessory data showing the
environment of which the image data is recorded in the first
medium, and the image data output apparatus may further include: an
accessory data reader for reading the accessory data from the image
data; and a recording condition storage unit for storing a
recording condition associating the recorded environment with a
recording format of the digital contents, and wherein the selector
may include a recording condition collator for selecting the
digital contents by collating the accessory data with the recording
condition.
[0017] The accessory data may relate to the type of image capturing
apparatus that photographed the image data, and the recording
condition defines a recording format to be played by the image
capturing apparatus.
[0018] The image data output may further include an available
memory detector for detecting available memory of the first medium,
and wherein the selector may select the digital contents based on
the detected available memory.
[0019] The image data output apparatus may further include a data
size storage unit for storing a data size of the digital contents,
and wherein the selector may select the digital contents having a
smaller data size than the available memory by collating the
detected available memory of the first medium with the data
size.
[0020] The image data output apparatus may further include: an
after-treatment condition input unit for inputting an
after-treatment condition showing whether or not to erase at least
a part of the image data from the first medium after completing the
reading of the image data from the first medium; and an eraser for
erasing at least a part of the image data from the first medium
based on the after-treatment condition.
[0021] The image data output apparatus may further include: a
display for displaying to the customer some of the digital contents
as choices; and an operation control for selecting desired digital
contents for recording in the first medium from the digital
contents displayed by the display.
[0022] The operation control may select desired digital contents
for providing to the second medium from the digital contents
displayed by the display.
[0023] The image data output apparatus may further include a
calculator for calculating a price of the digital contents recorded
in the first medium based on the predetermined selection
condition.
[0024] The calculator may calculate the price of the digital
contents recorded in the second medium based on the predetermined
selection condition.
[0025] The image capturing apparatus having a camera display for
displaying some of the digital contents as choices and a camera
operation control for selecting desired digital contents from the
digital contents may display the digital contents as the choices
and record the digital contents by selecting with the camera
operation control.
[0026] According to the second aspect of the present invention, an
image data output system for outputting image data, which includes:
a first medium for recording the image data to be received by a
shop for converting a medium and for recording digital contents to
be received by a customer; a second medium for recording the image
data and for recording digital contents along with the image data
to be received by the customer; a reader for reading out the image
data recorded in the first medium; an output unit for outputting
the image data to the second medium; a digital contents storage
unit for storing the digital contents that the shop provides to the
customer; a selector for selecting from the digital contents
storage unit the digital contents to be provided to the customer
based on a predetermined selection condition; a recorder for
recording the selected digital contents in at least one of the
first and second medium; and an image capturing apparatus for
outputting customer information, which includes: an information
input unit for inputting by a user's operation information for the
image data output apparatus to refer to when selecting the digital
contents; and a recorder for recording the information along with
the image data in at least one of the first and second medium.
[0027] The image capturing apparatus may include: a camera display
for displaying the digital contents as choices; and a camera
operation control for selecting desired digital contents from the
displayed digital contents.
[0028] According to the third aspect of the present invention, a
method for outputting image data, which includes: reading out from
a first medium that stores the image data, which is recorded by an
image capturing apparatus; outputting the image data to a second
medium, which is a different type of medium than the first medium;
selecting from a plurality of digital contents to be stored in at
least the first medium that a shop provides to a customer; and
recording in the first medium the digital contents.
[0029] The recording may record the digital contents also in the
second medium. The recording may record the digital contents
selected by the selecting based on a predetermined selection
condition.
[0030] The selecting may include inputting information relating to
the customer for a reference, and the selecting may select the
digital contents by referring to the customer information. The
digital contents may be selected by the customer.
[0031] The method for outputting image data may further include
displaying displays at least one of the digital contents before
displaying the image data stored in the first medium.
[0032] The displaying may display at least one of the digital
contents before displaying the image data stored in at least one of
the first and the second medium. The displaying may be selected
whether to display the digital contents when printing.
[0033] The method for outputting image data may further include
storing a condition relating to the customer as the predetermined
selection condition, and wherein the selecting may select the
digital contents by collating the customer information with the
customer condition.
[0034] The image data may include accessory data showing the
environment of which the image data is recorded in the first
medium, the image data output apparatus may further include:
reading the accessory data from the image data; and storing a
recording condition associating the recorded environment with a
recording format of the digital contents, and wherein the selecting
may include selecting the digital contents by collating the
accessory data with the recording condition.
[0035] The method for outputting image data may further include
detecting available memory of the first medium, and wherein the
selecting may select the digital contents based on the detected
available memory.
[0036] The method for outputting image data may further include
storing a data size of the digital contents, and wherein the
selecting may select the digital contents having a smaller data
size than the available memory by collating the available memory of
the first medium with the data size.
[0037] The method for outputting image data may further include:
inputting an after-treatment condition showing whether or not to
erase at least a part of the image data from the first medium after
completing the reading of the image data from the first medium; and
erasing at least a part of the image data from the first medium
based on the after-treatment condition.
[0038] The method for outputting image data may further include:
displaying to the customer some of the digital contents as choices;
and selecting desired digital contents for recording in the first
medium from the digital contents displayed by the display.
[0039] The selecting may select desired digital contents for
recording in the second medium from the digital contents displayed
by the display.
[0040] The method for outputting image data may further include
calculating a price of the digital contents recorded in the first
medium based on the predetermined selection condition.
[0041] The calculating may calculate the price of the digital
contents recorded in the second medium based on the predetermined
selection condition.
[0042] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a
recording medium storing a program for outputting image data, which
is executable at a computer, wherein the program includes: a
reading module for reading out the image data recorded in a first
medium; an outputting module for outputting the image data to a
second medium; an selecting module for selecting digital contents;
and a recording module for recording digital contents that the
image capturing apparatus reproduces in one of the first and second
medium.
[0043] The program may further include a displaying module for
displaying at least one of the digital contents before displaying
the image data stored in one of the first and second medium.
[0044] The program may further include a module for the digital
contents to be selected as not being displayed when the image is
printed.
[0045] The selecting module may include inputting information
relating to the customer for reference, and the selecting module
may select the digital contents by referring to the customer
information.
[0046] The program may further include a storing module for storing
a condition relating to the customer as the predetermined selection
condition, and wherein the selecting module may select the digital
contents by collating the customer information with the customer
condition.
[0047] The image data may include accessory data showing the
environment of which the image data is recorded in the first
medium, and the program may further include: an accessory data
reading module for reading the accessory data from the image data;
and a recording condition storing module for storing a recording
condition associating the recorded environment with a recording
format of the digital contents, and wherein the selecting module
may include selecting the digital contents by collating the
accessory data with the recording condition.
[0048] The program may further include an available memory
detecting module for detecting available memory of the first
medium, and wherein the selecting module may select the digital
contents based on the detected available memory.
[0049] The program may further include a data size storing module
for storing a data size of the digital contents, and wherein the
selecting module may select the digital contents having a smaller
data size than the detected available memory by collating the
available memory of the first medium with the data size.
[0050] The program may further include: an after-treatment
condition inputting module for inputting an after-treatment
condition showing whether or not to erase at least a part of the
image data from the first medium after completing the reading of
the image data from the first medium; and an erasing module for
erasing at least a part of the image data from the first medium
based on the after-treatment condition.
[0051] The program may further include: a displaying module for
displaying to the customer some of the digital contents as choices;
and an operating module for selecting desired digital contents for
recording in at least one of the first and second medium from the
digital contents displayed by the display.
[0052] The program may further include a calculating module for
calculating a price of the digital contents recorded in at least
one of the first and second medium based on the predetermined
selection condition.
[0053] The summary of the invention does not necessarily describe
all necessary features of the present invention. The present
invention may also be a sub-combination of the features described
above. The above and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent from the following description
of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0054] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an apparatus
for outputting image data according to the first and second
embodiments.
[0055] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the details of
a digital contents selector and a selection conditions storage
unit.
[0056] FIG. 3 is a table showing the customer information input by
users using a customer information input unit.
[0057] FIG. 4 is a table showing the customer conditions for each
digital contents stored in a customer condition storage unit.
[0058] FIG. 5 is a table showing the recording conditions for each
camera type stored in a recording conditions storage unit.
[0059] FIG. 6 is a table showing the recordable data size of
digital contents stored in a data size storage unit.
[0060] FIG. 7 is a table showing the results of retrieved digital
contents selected by a collator.
[0061] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the process of converting
media and recording digital contents of an image data output
apparatus.
[0062] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the detailed advertisement
recording process at step S20 shown in FIG. 8.
[0063] FIG. 10 is a table showing the results of the retrieved
digital contents selected by a collator.
[0064] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the detailed pay digital data
recording process at step S20 shown in FIG. 8.
[0065] FIG. 12 is a back view of a digital camera having a camera
input unit for inputting selection conditions to select digital
contents.
[0066] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the media conversion of an
image data output apparatus and the process of recording digital
contents.
[0067] FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing an interface where
customers of an image data output apparatus operate.
[0068] FIG. 15 is a back view of a digital camera showing the
display playing digital contents recorded by an image data output
apparatus.
[0069] FIG. 16A is a display showing exemplary digital contents
displayed on a camera display of a digital camera shown in FIG.
13.
[0070] FIG. 16B is a display showing exemplary digital contents
displayed on a camera display of a digital camera shown in FIG.
13.
[0071] FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram showing an image data
output system according to the present embodiments.
[0072] FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram showing an image data
output system according to the present embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0073] The invention will now be described based on the preferred
embodiments, which do not intend to limit the scope of the present
invention, but exemplify the invention. All of the features and the
combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not
necessarily essential to the invention.
[0074] An image data output apparatus described below is an
apparatus placed at a shop such as a photo shop. This apparatus
undertakes a media conversion by reading from memory cards image
data photographed by customers using a digital camera and the like
and outputting the read image data to another medium other than a
memory card. Another medium here includes, for example, a paper
medium or a CD-R. Also, this apparatus records digital contents
provided by the shop to a customer in the available memory of a
memory card. The digital contents may also be recorded in another
medium. The digital contents here include, for example, digital
data such as sales information or advertisements and digital data
such as image data or music data for sale. The sales information
and advertisements are pieces of information for customers to
receive in exchange for a discount of the rate for a media
conversion. The image data and music data for sale are information
for customers that are received when paying for the data. The user
of the image data output apparatus may be a customer himself or
herself who takes the media conversion service or a sales clerk of
a photo shop.
[0075] The first medium described in the claims of the present
invention according to the present embodiments is, for example, a
memory card. The second medium described in the claims of the
present invention according to the present embodiments is, for
example, a paper medium or a CD-R.
[0076] The first embodiment of the present invention will be
described in the following. The image data output apparatus
according to the present embodiment records sales information or
advertisements in a memory card. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing
the image data output apparatus according to the present
embodiment. An image data output apparatus 10 includes a memory
card drive 20, an output unit 32, a digital contents selector 40, a
user interface 60, a digital contents storage unit 80, a selection
condition storage unit 82, and a service rates storage unit 90. The
memory card drive 20 exchanges digital data with a memory card 18.
The output unit 32 outputs image data recorded in the memory card
18 to a different medium other than the memory card 18. The
different medium may be, for example, a paper medium 34 or a CD-R
36.
[0077] The digital contents selector 40 selects digital contents
from the digital contents storage unit 80 based on predetermined
selection conditions received by the selection condition storage
unit 82. Users operate the image data output apparatus 10 through
the user interface 60. The digital contents storage unit 80 stores
a plurality of digital contents. The digital contents according to
the present embodiment are sales information or advertisements.
[0078] The memory card drive 20 includes a reader 22, a recorder
24, an accessory data reader 26, an available memory detector 28,
and an eraser 30. The memory card 18 maybe a semiconductor memory
such as an EPROM or a compact hard disk. Also, the memory card
drive 20 has a slot, though not shown in FIG. 1, and the memory
card 18 is inserted to the slot. The reader 22 reads out image data
from the memory card 18. The recorder 24 records digital contents
selected by the digital contents selector 40 to the memory card 18.
The output unit 32 may includes the recorder 24 to record digital
contents in another medium. The accessory data reader 26 reads
photographic conditions, such as a camera type, as accessory data
from the memory card 18. The available memory detector 28 detects
the available memory of the memory card 18. The eraser 30 erases at
least a part of the image data from the memory card 18.
[0079] The user interface 60 includes a customer information input
unit 62, an after-treatment condition input unit 64, a display 66,
and an operation control 68. The customer information input unit 62
is an interface where users input information relating to customers
(referred to as "customer information" hereinafter). The
after-treatment condition input unit 64 is an interface for users
to input after-treatment conditions. Here, the after-treatment
conditions means conditions for deciding whether to erase at least
a part of the image data from the memory card 18 after having read
the image data from the memory card 18.
[0080] The digital contents storage unit 80 may be a standalone
database that cannot gain access from the outside or be a network
database that can gain access from the outside.
[0081] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the details of the digital
contents selector 40 and the selection condition storage unit
82.
[0082] The selection condition storage unit 82 stores selection
conditions that are selected from a plurality of digital contents
stored in the digital contents storage unit 80 digital contents
that are stored in the memory card 18.
[0083] The selection condition storage unit 82 includes a customer
condition storage unit 84, a recording condition storage unit 86,
and a data size storage unit 88. The customer condition storage
unit 84 stores customer conditions for judging what kind of
advertisements are to be received by customers. The recording
condition storage unit 86 stores recording conditions for judging
what kind of advertisements are to be received by customers
according to the customers' environment for playing digital
contents. The data size storage unit 88 stores data size conditions
for judging which advertisements are to be selected according to
the maximum recordable data size.
[0084] The digital contents selector 40 includes a collator 42, a
final selector 50, and a calculator 52. The collator 42 selects
several digital contents from a plurality of digital contents
stored in the digital contents storage unit 80. The collator 42
includes a customer condition collator 44, a recording condition
collator 46, and a data size collator 48.
[0085] The customer condition collator 44 selects digital contents
by collating customer information received by the customer
information input unit 62 with the customer conditions stored in
the customer condition storage unit 84. The recording condition
collator 46 selects digital contents by collating accessory data
read by the accessory data reader 26 with the recording conditions
stored in the recording condition storage unit 46. When a camera
type is read as accessory data, digital contents that can be played
with the camera are selected according to the playing environment.
The data size collator 48 selects digital contents by collating the
available memory of the memory card 18 detected by the available
memory detector 28 with the data size conditions of each of the
contents stored in the data size storage unit 88. The number of
digital contents to be selected by the collator 42 may be single or
plural.
[0086] The display 66 may display digital contents selected by the
collator 42 as choices. In such a case, users may select from
digital contents displayed on the display 66 digital contents for
actually recording in the memory card 18 by operating the operation
control 68.
[0087] The final selector 50 selects from digital contents that
have been selected by the collator 42 digital contents for a final
recording in the memory card 18 based on the predetermined
conditions. The final selector 50 may select digital contents for
recording in the memory card 18 based on the instructions made by
the user using the operation control 68. The final selector 50 may
also select digital contents for recording in another medium.
[0088] The service rates storage unit 90 stores information of
service rates which provides discount rates for converting media in
exchange for digital contents, such as advertisements, according to
the type or the quantity of the advertisements. Advertisers may pay
for these discounts. The calculator 52 calculates discount rates
for the media conversion by referring to the service rates storage
unit 90.
[0089] The specific examples of selection conditions stored in the
selection condition storage unit 82 will be described using FIGS. 3
through 6 in the following.
[0090] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary customer information input
by a user using the customer information input unit 62. The
customer information is, for example, sex, age, interests, and the
like of customers. When a customer himself or herself inputs
customer information by using the customer information input unit
62, the display 66 displays items and choices for the customer to
select answers about the question items. When a sales clerk of a
photo shop inputs customer information, the sales clerk inputs the
sex and the estimated age of the customer who handed the memory
card 18 by using the customer information input unit 62 since
interests of the customer are not known. In such a case, the sales
clerk may ask the customer of his or her interests, or ask the
customer to complete a questionnaire.
[0091] FIG. 4 is an exemplary database showing the customer
conditions for each digital contents stored in the customer
condition storage unit 84. The database includes an advertiser, a
code number, customer conditions for the advertisement to target,
and an expiry date for the advertisements, for example.
[0092] The customer condition collator 44 selects digital contents
by collating customer information input by the customer information
input unit 62 with customer conditions stored in the customer
condition storage unit 84. For example, the advertisement with the
code number 0001 provided by A Co. provides the customer conditions
as "none." Thus, this advertisement does not limit the target of
customers. The advertisement with the code number 0002 provided by
B Co. provides the customer conditions as "sex (F)." Thus, the
target customer for this advertisement is limited to customers who
input "female" in the customer information. The advertisement with
the code number 0003 provided by C Co. provides the customer
conditions as "sex (F), age (20)." Thus, the target customer for
this advertisement is limited to customers who input "female" for
sex and "20s" for age in the customer information. In this way,
advertisers may narrow down the target customers since customers
who are likely to have interests in their advertisements may be
previously set. A plurality of customer conditions may be
designated. The service rates storage unit 90 may define the
discount rates for converting media according to the number of
customer conditions.
[0093] FIG. 5 is an exemplary database showing the recording
conditions for each camera type stored in the recording condition
storage unit 86. The database includes the name of the camera
manufacturer, the type, method of playing image data, and method of
recording and playing, for example. The accessory data recorded in
the memory card 18 with image data may contain information relating
to the type of digital camera that photographed the image. The
accessory data reader 26 reads from the accessory data information
of the type of digital camera that photographed the image data.
[0094] The recording conditions in FIG. 5 associates camera type
with methods of playing digital contents. There cording condition
collator 46 selects digital contents by collating the accessory
data read by the accessory data reader 26 with the recording
conditions stored in the recording condition storage unit 86. For
example, the digital camera with a type made by X Co. can play
still image or audio data. Thus, if it is found from the accessory
data read from the accessory data reader 26 that the image data
recorded in the memory card 18 is the image data photographed by
this digital camera, digital contents that can play still image or
audio data are selected.
[0095] Also, the recording conditions associates camera type with
methods of recording and playing of the digital camera. The method
of recording and playing shows which data among a plurality of data
a digital camera plays in advance. For example, data is played in
the order of an earlier photographed date for the digital camera
with .alpha. type made by X Co. Thus, a photographed date earlier
than the date of the other image data is written in the digital
contents as accessory data in order for the digital contents stored
in the memory card 18 or another medium such as a CD-R to be played
in advance. Data is played in the order of a later photographed
date for the digital camera with .beta. type made by Y Co. Thus, a
photographed date later than the date of the other image data is
written in the digital contents as accessory data in order for the
digital contents stored in the memory card 18 or another medium
such as a CD-R to be played in advance. Data to be played in
advance is selected according to the data arrangement in the memory
card for the digital camera with .gamma. type made by Z Co.
Therefore, digital contents are recorded in the memory card 18 or
another medium such as a CD-R in order to be played in advance.
Thus, digital contents may be infallibly played when playing image
data. The recording conditions are not shown in the FIGS., but
recording formats of digital contents may be defined.
[0096] FIG. 6 is a table showing the data size of which each of the
digital contents can be recorded, which the data size storage unit
88 stores. The data size collator 48 selects digital contents
having smaller data size than the available memory of the memory
card detected by the available memory detector 28.
[0097] The data size conditions associate data size with digital
contents. For example, the digital contents with the code number
0001 are still images, and the data size is smaller than 50 KB.
Thus, if the memory card 18 has available memory of more than 50
KB, these digital contents may be selected. The digital contents
with the code number 0030 are audio data, and the data size is
between 101 KB and 500 KB. Thus, if the memory card 18 has
available memory of more than 500 KB, these digital contents may be
selected. The ranges of the data sizes shown here are examples, and
more detailed groupings may be arranged.
[0098] FIG. 7 is a table showing the result of the retrieved
digital contents selected by the collator 42. Discount rates, or
discount points, for converting media to be paid by customers are
shown in the order of higher points being first, but the order of
the list may be set to display in any order.
[0099] If a customer himself or herself selects digital contents,
this retrieved results may be displayed on the display 66. The
customer may be able to select interesting advertisements by
referring to the discount rates.
[0100] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the process of converting
media and recording advertisements of the image data output
apparatus 10.
[0101] If a user inserts the memory card 18 into a slot of the
memory card drive 20, which is not shown in the FIGS. , the reader
22 reads out image data recorded in the memory card 18, at step
S10. The output unit 32 converts the medium into another medium
different to the memory card 18, such as a paper medium 34 or a
CD-R 36, and outputs the image data, at step S12. The user inputs
the after-treatment conditions, which defines whether or not to
erase the image data from the memory card 18, at step S14. If the
user wants to erase the image data after the media conversion is
completed, the eraser 30 erases the image data from the memory card
18, at step S16. If the user does not want to erase the image data,
the available memory detector 28 detects whether there is enough
available memory, at step S18. The recorder 24 records
advertisements selected by the digital contents selector 40 in the
memory card 18, if there is enough available memory in the memory
card 18, at step S20. If there is not enough available memory in
the memory card 18, the process of recording advertisements is
skipped. After checking out, by calculating the discount rates
discounted by writing advertisements and the charge for the media
conversion, at step S50, the memory card 18 is returned to the
customer, at step S52. If another medium different to the memory
card 18 is the CD-R 36, digital contents may be recorded in the
CD-R 36. Digital contents may be stored in the CD-R 36 if the
available memory of the memory card 18 is not enough.
[0102] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the details of the process for
recording advertisements at step S20 shown in FIG. 8.
[0103] A user inputs information relating to the customer using the
customer information input unit 62, at step S22. The customer
condition collator 44 collates the input customer information with
customer conditions stored in the customer condition storage unit
84, at step S24. The accessory data reader 26 reads information
such as the type of digital camera from the accessory data, at step
S26. The recording condition collator 46 collates the read
accessory data with the recording conditions stored in the
recording conditions storage unit 86, at step S28. The available
memory detector 28 detects the available memory of the memory card
18, at step S30. The data size collator 48 collates the detected
available memory of the memory card 18 with the data size
conditions of the advertisements stored in the data size storage
unit 88, at step S32. The final selector 50 of the digital contents
selector 40 selects from the advertisements narrowed down at steps
S22-32 advertisements for recording in the memory card 18, at step
S34.
[0104] The recorder 24 records advertisements selected by the
digital contents selector 40 in the memory card 18, at step S36.
The recorder 24 may record advertisements selected by the digital
contents selector 40 in another medium such as a CD-R 36. The
calculator 52 calculates the discount rates based on the recording
of the advertisements by referring to the service rates storage
unit 90, at step S38.
[0105] The second embodiment according to the present invention
will be described in the following. The digital contents according
to the present embodiment are pay digital data such as image data
or audio data for sale.
[0106] An image data output apparatus according to the present
embodiment is shown in the functional block diagram of FIGS. 1 and
2 as the image data output apparatus 10 according to the first
embodiment. Thus, the structural elements having the same functions
as each structural element of the image data output apparatus 10
according to the present embodiment are not described here. The
service rates storage unit 90 according to the present embodiment
defines sale prices of the digital contents.
[0107] The selection conditions stored in the selection condition
storage unit 82 are the same as the specific examples described in
FIGS. 5 and 6 in the first embodiment. The collator 42 selects some
of the digital contents from the digital contents storage unit 80
according to the accessory data read by the accessory data reader
26 and the available memory of the memory card 18 detected by the
available memory detector 28.
[0108] The result of the retrieved digital contents selected by the
collator 42 is shown in FIG. 10. The display 66 displays this
retrieved result. The customer selects digital contents that he or
she wants to record in the memory card 18 by using the operation
control 68 and purchases the selected digital contents.
[0109] The process for recording pay digital data in the memory
card 18 is described in the following. Since the process for
converting media with the image data output apparatus 10 has the
same process described in FIG. 8 according to the first embodiment,
the description is omitted here.
[0110] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the detail process for
recording pay digital data at step S20 shown in FIG. 8.
[0111] The accessory data reader 26 reads information such as the
type of digital camera from the accessory data, at step S122. The
recording condition collator 46 collates the read accessory data
with the recording conditions stored in the recording condition
storage unit 86, at step S124. The available memory detector 28
detects the available memory of the memory card 18, at step S126.
The data size collator 48 collates the detected available memory of
the memory card 18 with the data size conditions of the pay digital
data stored in the data size storage unit 88, at step S128.
[0112] The display 66 displays the pay digital data selected at
steps S122-128, at step S130. The user purchases at least one of
the pay digital data displayed on the display 66 and selects the
pay digital data using the operation control 68, at step S132. The
user decides whether or not to actually record the selected pay
digital data in the memory card 18, at step S134. If the user
decides to record the selected pay digital data, the recorder 24
records the pay digital data in the memory card 18, at step S138.
The recorder 24 may record the pay digital data in another medium
such as a CD-R 36. The calculator 52 refers to the service rates
storage unit 90 and calculates the sale price for the pay digital
data purchased by the customer, at step S140.
[0113] On the other hand, if the user does not decide to record the
selected pay digital data, the user again inputs whether or not to
select another pay digital data, at step S136. If the user selects
another pay digital data, the process is returned to step S130. If
the user does not select another pay digital data, the processes at
steps S138 and 140 are skipped.
[0114] Now, the third embodiment according to the present invention
is described in the following. According to the present embodiment,
customer information is not input by the image data output
apparatus but rather is input by a person using a digital
camera.
[0115] The image data output apparatus according to the present
embodiment is shown in functional block diagrams shown in FIGS. 1
and 2 as the image data output apparatus according to the first and
second embodiments. Thus, the description of the structural
elements having the same functions with each structural element of
the image data output apparatus 10 according to the first and
second embodiments are not described here.
[0116] FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary digital camera according to
the present embodiment. The digital camera 110 records image data
in the memory card 18. The digital camera 110 includes: data input
units 114, 116, and 118; and a recorder 119, which are not shown in
FIG. 12 but are shown in FIG. 17 described later. The user of the
digital camera 110 operates the data input units 114, 116, and 118
and inputs information to be referred when the image data output
apparatus 10 selects digital contents to be recorded in the memory
card 18. The recorder records the information along with the image
data in the memory card 18. This information may be recorded as
accessory data in the memory card.
[0117] The information recorded in the memory card 18 includes
information such as after-treatment condition and writing
prohibition. The customer information is, as shown in FIG. 3 in the
first embodiment, sex and age of the customer, for example. The
customer information may include the name, address, and telephone
number of customers. The after-treatment condition is the condition
for deciding whether or not to erase at least a part of the image
data from the memory card 18. The writing prohibition information
is information to prohibit recording digital contents in the memory
card 18.
[0118] The digital camera 110 may include a camera display 112 for
displaying customer information as shown in FIG. 3 in the first
embodiment.
[0119] The image data output apparatus 10 reads the accessory data
from the accessory data reader 26. If customer information is
included in the accessory data, the display 66 does not display the
overlapping items.
[0120] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the process for recording
digital contents of the image data output apparatus 10 according to
the present embodiment.
[0121] If a user inserts the memory card 18 into a slot of the
memory card drive, which is not shown in the FIGS. , the reader 22
reads out image data recorded in the memory card 18, at step S210.
The output unit 32 converts the read image data into medium other
than the memory card 18, such as a paper medium 34 or a CD-R 36 and
outputs the converted image data, at step S212. The accessory data
reader 26 reads recording prohibition information from the memory
card 18, at step S214. If the recording is not prohibited, the
accessory data reader 26 reads from the memory card 18
after-treatment conditions, which determines whether or not to
erase image data from the memory card 18, at step S216. If the
image data is to be erased after converting to another medium, the
eraser 30 erases the image data from the memory card 18, at step
S218. If the image data is not to be erased, the available memory
detector 28 detects whether there is enough available memory in the
memory card 18, at step S220. If there is available memory in the
memory card 18, the recorder 24 records digital contents selected
by the digital contents selector 40 in the memory card 18, at step
S222. If there is not enough available memory in the memory card
18, the process for recording digital contents at step S222 is
skipped. After checking out by calculating discounts or purchased
price for converting to another medium and writing digital
contents, at step S250, the memory card 18 is returned to the
customer, at step S252. If the recording to the memory card 18 is
prohibited at step S214, the steps S216-222 are skipped and the
calculation is conducted to charge for the media conversion, at
step S250.
[0122] The process for recording digital contents at step S222 is
the same as the process shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. According to the
present embodiment, customer information is read from the accessory
data recorded in the memory card 18.
[0123] FIG. 14 is an interface for customers of the image data
output apparatus 10 to operate. This image data output apparatus 10
undertakes a media conversion to print image data recorded in the
memory card 18 into a paper medium 34. The number 21 is a slot for
inserting the memory card 18, 66 is a display, and 68 are operation
controls.
[0124] In FIG. 14, the display field "1. Print menu" is for
conducting a media conversion. Users designate the number and the
size of prints for an image data number with this menu. Users may
input customer information such as an address and a telephone
number. The display field "2. Information" is for selecting sales
information and advertisements. And the display field "3. Pay
guidance" is for selecting information on the latest photo
collections and the latest hit music, for example. The fields may
have any other titles or subjects.
[0125] FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary digital camera that can
play digital contents recorded by using the image data output
apparatus 10.
[0126] This digital camera 120 includes a camera display 122 for
displaying some of the digital contents as choices, and camera
operation controls 124, 126, and 128 for selecting desired digital
contents from digital contents.
[0127] The image data output apparatus 10 displays digital contents
as choices on the camera display 122 of the digital camera 120 as
well as recording digital contents in forms that the camera
operation controls 124-128 can select.
[0128] The image data output apparatus 10 may, for example, make an
image data directory for storing image data photographed by a
digital camera and another directory different than the image data
directory in the memory card 18. The digital contents selected to
be recorded in the memory card 18 may be recorded in another
directory.
[0129] The camera operation control 124 of the digital camera 120
is a menu button. Users select either the image data directory or
another directory by using this button. The camera operation
controls 126 are selection buttons. Users select desired images and
the like from the choices displayed on the camera display 122. The
camera operation control 128 is a decision button. Users decide to
display the selected image on the entire screen of the camera
display 122 by using this button.
[0130] If the image data output apparatus 10 selects a plurality of
digital contents, the camera display 122 displays a list of digital
contents in thumbnails. If users select digital contents by using
the select button 126, sales information and advertisements are
displayed on the entire screen of the display 122 as shown in FIG.
16A.
[0131] If the digital contents are photo collections, all of the
images of the photos are displayed in thumbnails, for example.
Then, if the user selects one of the images, the enlarged selected
image is displayed as shown in FIG. 16B.
[0132] If the digital contents are music such as hit songs, the
titles of music and the pictures of album jackets are displayed in
thumbnails. If the user selects a picture, the music is played.
[0133] FIGS. 17 and 18 are functional block diagrams showing an
image data output system 200 according to the present embodiments.
The image data output system includes the image data output
apparatus 10, the memory card 18, other media 34 and 36, and the
image capturing apparatuses 110 and 120. The detailed description
of each structural element is already explained above, so the
description is omitted here.
[0134] As is obvious from the description above, digital contents
such as sales information and advertisements may be received by
customers in a variety of forms, according to the present
invention.
[0135] Although the present invention has been described by way of
exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that those skilled
in the art might make many changes and substitutions without
departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention,
which is defined only by the appended claims.
* * * * *